[5] Gina Kennedy (ENG) 3-1 Lucy Turmel (ENG) 16-14, 6-11, 13-11, 11-4 (51m)
I can safely say this is the best I ever saw Lucy play. I have always liked her personality on court, her style of play. But today, it’s like a butterfly coming to live after time in a cocoon. She seemed to find a variety of shots that she never used to play before, great lobs, long drop shots, flicks from everywhere. And she never ever say die.
In front of her, Gina, who has been going through HELL because of health issues (read the quote), isolated her from the world and didn’t allow her to live a normal, simple life. And what a match she produced as well. Ben Ford will be proud of the physicality Gina is showing, as ever. In the 4th, she also showed her short game – Lucy was a bit tired by the middle of it, and Gina was dictating the game and stepped in front.
Incredibly fair match, so few decisions, I counted less than 10 the whole match. Another amazing stat, 4 errors for Gina, same for Lucy.
No errors, no discussions with the ref, no pushing, no blocking. Show this match to kids, it’s worth it.
Three decisions in the first game… But then again, one of Lucy’s lob is called out, I saw it good, Steve Cubbins on the other side of the court saw it good, and apparently, the video shows it was good. It was on Gina’s 3rd game ball, 15-14…. So 16/14 to Gina, 17m of extremely hard work. Shame it had to finish on a not too good call though.
Lucy doesn’t care about it, doesn’t dwell on it, and comes back on court firing, and in 7m, she equalises 11-6.
Another tough third game, Gina is back more focus mentally and physically, while Lucy is pumped with the win of the previous game, 3-0, and will be a couple of points in front up to the very end of the game, 9/7, 9/9. And despite her best effort, she runs out a bit of gas right during the tie-break, goes for just a little bit too much, and Gina takes that crucial third, 13/11 in 13m.
Fourth is all about Gina, Lucy trying to stay in touch with the score, 4/5, but Gina is now in front and firing at will, stringing 6 point in a row, 11/4.
But what a GREAT ENCOUNTER. More of those please.
Gina : “That was really tough. There were lots of emotions before the match, Lucy and I know each other so well, she came and stayed at my flat last week and we trained together. That made me nervous because she knows what’s going on with me and I know what’s going on with her.
“I was really nervous when I woke up and I knew during the knock up that I was flat. I think because I’d spent so much energy being anxious. I felt very flat out there which means my movement goes all over the place. I could still scrap my way through it, but she controlled me pretty much the entire match until that fourth game.
“I got lucky to win those tiebreaks. I feel like the tie break was when I turned on that fight that I always have. But then, in that second game, I let it go so easily when normally I’m fired up, like, ‘don’t lose a point’, it’s hard playing such a good friend, and that was a really good match. She played really well and controlled me the whole match.
“I wasn’t accurate enough and I allowed her to play her best which is a credit to her. And then I just did what I didn’t want to do, which was hit the ball hard and loose and let her volley. She played very well and I’m very happy to go through.
“I’ve been really struggling for a few years with ulcerative colitis. Fortunately I’ve been put on new meds, as of two weeks ago. So during Nationals I started on new medication and I’m finally feeling back to normal. Over the summer, I couldn’t even leave the house. It’s so debilitating, and obviously, for squash, it makes a difference. But also for general life, I couldn’t even walk. My friends would ask me for a coffee and I couldn’t go. I’m really grateful to feel like myself again.
“We take health for granted so much, and now that I’m feeling healthy again, everything is [positive again]. I can share a room again, Tinne [Gilis] and I are sharing. Lucy knows what I’ve been going through this summer. I’ve been training still, but when you know each other’s ins and outs, it’s hard mentally. But I’m very grateful to win.”
